Ethical example

The Council for Industry on Higher Education is posting on its website the first draft of a practical guide to help higher education institutions address ethical issues. This does not involve "embedding ethics and morality into student courses" ("'Ethical' degrees get cool response", March 25).

The guide is designed to help institutions tackle ethics throughout their organisations. It is written for anyone who has responsibility for developing or revising an institution's approach to this important subject. It suggests reasons for articulating an ethical approach, describes current practice and explores how higher education institutions might handle a range of ethical dilemmas.

Earlier this year, about 100 higher education institutions responded to a questionnaire on ethical policies and practices sent out on behalf of the CIHE by Universities UK and the Standing Conference of Principals. The results of this research have helped an advisory group guide the development of this "how-to" approach.

We would welcome advice on the draft and on four questions we have raised.

Many businesses have found to their cost what happens when ethics are forgotten; higher education can learn from those mistakes and also lead by example.

Richard Brown
Chief executive
CIHE
www.cihe-uk.com/ethics.php